Apple Discontinues Clips App, Shifts Focus to Other Projects
In a move that signals the end of an era for mobile video creation, Apple has announced the discontinuation of its Clips app. As of October 10, new users can no longer download the app from the App Store, and existing users are encouraged to migrate their content to other platforms.
According to a support page on the Apple website, the company will no longer provide updates for Clips, effectively rendering it obsolete over time. Existing users can continue to use the app on current or earlier versions of iOS and iPadOS, but without new features and bug fixes, the experience is likely to become increasingly cumbersome.
"We're grateful to our users who have enjoyed creating and sharing their own videos with Clips," an Apple spokesperson said in a statement. "As we focus on other projects that align with our vision for the future of mobile creativity, we encourage users to explore alternative options for video editing and sharing."
Launched in 2017, Clips was designed as a social media-agnostic app that allowed users to stitch together photos and videos with filters, emojis, and music. At its peak, it seemed poised to challenge the likes of Snapchat and Instagram Stories, but ultimately failed to gain significant traction.
"Clips' video editing capabilities were simple to a fault," said Brian Heater, TechCrunch's former editor-in-chief. "However, Apple's intention was likely not to create a robust video editing app, but rather to showcase its hardware and software capabilities while offering users a path out of social media ecosystems."
The discontinuation of Clips marks the latest in a series of moves by Apple to refocus its efforts on more strategic projects. As the company continues to evolve its mobile ecosystem, it's clear that Clips no longer fits into its long-term plans.
For existing users, the transition will likely be seamless, as they can re-download the app from their Apple account if needed. However, without updates, the app's functionality and compatibility with newer iOS versions may become increasingly limited over time.
As Apple shifts its attention to other projects, it remains to be seen what the future holds for mobile video creation. Will the company's next move be a more robust video editing app, or will it focus on integrating video capabilities into existing apps like iMovie? Only time will tell.
*Reporting by Techcrunch.*
